“Rio, what is-” I began, before the half-blood shushed the both of us. The stone door swung open a second later.
“S-sir! I must insist you go back to your chambers! The prisoners are on the loose and-”
“Hold your tongue.” I shivered as Levent's voice bit the air.
“Sir!” I heard someone scramble across the hall after Levent.
Despite Rio's hold on my shoulders, I managed to lean forward enough to see Levent press his hand to the central wall. There was a shifting of stone, a doorway opening up in front of the kin. I shrunk back into the darkness. How much could I bet that the stairway we needed was inside that doorway?
“I must insist-” the guard began again before his jaw clamped shut, no doubt due to a particularly potent glare from Levent.
“If you are so worried, go look for the prisoners with the rest. I am going to speak with our King, unless you would like to explain to him why I am late yourself.”
“Y-yes sir!” the guard yipped before I heard his metal boots stomp away from Levent. Unfortunately for us, they were heading this way.
Rio pulled Kewyn and I closer together before squeezing toward the alcove opening. I made a silent apology to Kewyn for the proximity, and then watched the half-blood as he listened to the guard's approaching footsteps. It was only one guard, but if he found us I had no doubt many more would crash down upon us.
The redhead inched forward. All I could hear for a moment was the shallow breathing of Kewyn, Rio and I, and the quiet shuffling of the guard as he moved nervously down the hall.
At the very moment that the tip of the guard's left boot came into view and the sound of his breathing joined ours, Rio stepped out of the alcove.
“Hello,” the redhead said, grinning wildly.
The human guard was so startled for a split second that Rio had plenty of time to grab hold of one of his helmet's artificial horns and fling him into the wall. The helmet came off in the process, and the guard crumpled to the floor, a dazed look in his eyes. Kewyn took the initiative then, grabbing the helmet from Rio and giving the guard a final clonk on the head with it. He slumped over, unconscious.
“Well that was easy,” Rio said.
“What now, though?” Kewyn asked, tossing the helmet back to Rio.